Sotheby's ViewMasterworks of Aboriginal Art: Sotheby’s Sale Returns to London

Sotheby’s trailblazing sale of Aboriginal Art returns to London this March for its third consecutive season.

Following the successes of 2015 and 2016, the auction will feature magnificent works that transcend material and spiritual realms. Groundbreaking and unique, the sale will comprise rare artefacts—including shields and ceremonial figures dating from the 18th century onwards—alongside 30 contemporary paintings from the Scholl collection.

The sale’s masterworks include those of indigenous masters such as Warlimpirringa Tjapaltjarri, Australia’s best-known Aboriginal artist, and Janangoo Butcher Cherel, who was proclaimed a Living Treasure by Western Australia’s state government in 2004. These paintings will stand beside seven of Emily Kame Kngwarreye’s monumental canvasses, which she crafted in the later stages of her life. The paintings’ appearance signals the most important Emily Kame Kngwarreye collection to come to auction.

Steeped in indigenous knowledge, these incredible works of art capture Aboriginal Australia’s spirit in an unparalleled way. The images they evoke are redolent of the awe-inspiring Australian outback and its stunning natural beauty.

Sotheby’s is the only international auction house outside of Australia to hold regular sales of this nature, making it a one-off opportunity to share in Australian culture on the European continent.

Ahead of the 14 March sale, the works will be exhibited at Sotheby’s New Bond Street from 10-12 March.

Sotheby’s senior consultant Tim Klingender said: ‘This year’s auction offers an outstanding selection of works of high importance and calibre, bringing together rare artefacts and monumental canvases from three major international collections, including that of collectors and philanthropists Dennis and Debra Scholl.

‘With the energetic masterworks of Emily Kame Kngwarreye, to the ceremonial figures steeped in ancestral history, we expect this year’s sale to be the strongest so far and to capture the interest of collectors from across the globe.’

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